On these days of much despair about the state of the recorded music
business, or indeed music itself, and pining about everyone's
(especially youth's) inability to appreciate the arts, I thought I
would share a sight I had last week-end in the heart of New York City,
the Times Square subway stop.
There was a *newly opened* independent record store, selling iPod
accessories, DVDs, CDs, cassettes, and (gasp!) vinyl discs, seemingly
doing brisk business.
Next to it there was a string quintet formed by folks in their
twenties. They were surrounded by a very attentive crowd of 100+,
stopping in the middle of their busy shopping errands to listen to
their rendition of Mozart, played with verve and impeccable intonation.
Happy holidays to everyone!
Marcos Sueiro Bal
Audio and Moving-Image Archivist
Columbia University Libraries